Motor driven reel for kites



1965 R. WILLIAMSON 7 3,202,378

MOTOR DRIVEN REEL FOR KITES Filed March 8, 1963 INVENTOR.

ROGER L. WILLIAMSON BY W HIE%NEY United States Patent 3,292,378 MQTGR DRIVEN REEL FUR KITES Roger L. Williamson, 2377 East 3595 South, flalt Lake City, Utah Filed Mar. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 263,870 3 Claims. (Cl. 2d2-84J1) The present invention relates to electrical kite winders and, more particularly, to a new and improved type of electrical kite winder or reel which may be operated simply by dry-cell batteries, if desired, and which is versatile, compact, easy to use, and suited to perform set, retrieve, and play functions.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical kite winder.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrically operated kite winder which accommodates play or outflow of line, line stoppage, and line retrieve, and all this in a very easy and convenient manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical kite winder wherein many of the standard parts of a simple flashlight may be incorporated therein for convenience and for reduced cost in manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to utilize the basic, simple principals of flashlight operation and construction for producing, in an unusual manner, a unique device operatable as a powered reel or winder for kites.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an electrical kite winder wherein gear reduction means are incorporated to gear down motor drive and, additionally, to provide manually operable stop means for determining line play.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View, partially cut away for convenience of illustration, of an electrical kite winder embodying the principal of the present invention; in FIGURE 1, for convenience. and clarity, the switch is shown disposed slightly clockwise (looking forwardly with respect to the winder) so that the electrical contacting arm thereof and its function may be clearly perceived.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the structure of FIGURE 1, with the handle being rotationally displaced somewhat with respect to the reel enclosure so that the operation of the parts may be clearly perceived; this rotational displacement in actuality may be produced by the revolvement of the handle with respect to the reel enclosure at the screw-thread connection therebetween.

FIGURE 3 is a simplified electrical schematic of the electrical circuit employed in the present invention.

In FIGURE 1 the electrical kite winder of the present invention is shown to include a case which comprises handle 11 and reel enclosure or mount 12. Handle 11 and reel enclosure 12 are or may be integral with respect to each other and, as shown, may include one, two or more parts. In FIGURE 2 the case 11 is shown to comprise two parts, with the handle 11 and reel enclosure 12 being secured together in a screw-thread connection as at 13. Operatively disposed within handle 11 are the drycell batteries 14 and 15 which abut one another end to end and the latter of which is spring retained by compression spring 16. As is also usual in the case of flashlight batteries, spring 16 supplies not only a thrusting engagement with respect to batteries 14, 15 and contact button 17, hereinafter described, but also insures an electrical connection between the copper coating 18 disposed on the inner wall of handle 11 and the battery means employed. Switch 19 is disposed on the case 10 in a suitable position, preferably along handle 11, and includes a switch slide 20, and electrical contact arm 21, and a rivet 22 intercon meeting the two. Preferably, the switch slide 20 will be of electrically insulative material.

The reel enclosure or mount 12 may, as shown, include a partition 23 against which abuts an electrical member 24. The latter may comprise a conventional flashlight part having reflector 25 and electrical conductive circular flange 26. The reflector 25 will also be conductive so that a motor lead 27 of motor 28 may be soldered thereto as at 29. The remaining electrical lead 36 of motor 23 may pass through aperture 31 of partition 23, as shown, and also be disposed through the electrical member 24 to be soldered to the contact button 17 as shown. An insulative plug 31 is seated in the conical seat of electrical member 24, and spring 16 keeps the batteries 14 and 15 pressing toward button 17 of plug 31 so as to spring-seat the plug 31 effectively. Motor 28 may be secured by bracket or by other means 32 to the partition 23 by a suitable attachment 33. In order to insure that there is no direct electrical connection between reflector 25 and the handle 11, it is desirous that the circular attachment flange 34 of reel enclosure 12 be a plastic and thus nonconductive material. This may be screw threaded interiorly in a very easy manner to accommodate the screw thread fitting of handle 11 as shown.

Journaled within reel enclosure 12 at apertures 35 and 36 is a reel 37, the same including through shaft 38, end flange 35 secured thereto, and a remaining end flange 49 which in fact constitutes an enlarged gear of gear reduction means 41. The remaining component of gear reduction means 41 may include a small spur gear 42 which is aflixed to the output shaft 43 of motor 23. Thus, motor 28 drives by intermeshed gears 42 and the shaft 38 and, hence, reel 37 of the structure. Line 44 is wound about reel 37 and is disposed through the opening 45 of the reel enclosure (or mount) 12. (The reel enclosure 12 might reasonably comprise a simple mount bracket, in which event no opening 45 would be required.)

It will be noted with reference to FIGURE 2 that rivet 22 is disposed in slot 46 of handle 11. This enables the switch to be slid back and forth so as to electrically engage and disengage, alternately, the electrical contact arm 21 with flange 26. Thus, it will be seen with reference to FIGURES 2 and 3 that the switch 19, batteries 14 and 15, and motor 28 are electrically interconnected together in a series circuit. This is illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The operation of the basic structure becomes apparent upon recourse to- FIGURES 1 through 3. Sliding back and forth of the switch slide 20 of switch 19 produces the physical and hence electrical contact, when the slide is thrust forwardly, of electrical contact arm 21 and flange 26. This completes an electrical series circuit through switch 19, copper coating 18, spring 16, batteries 14 and 15, electrical contact button 17, electrical lead 39, motor 28, electrical lead 27, reflector 25 and back toflange 26 of electrical member 24. Hence the motor will commence to revolve, thus producing the revolvement of intermeshed gears 42 and 4t and, hence, the revolvement of shaft 39 and reel 37. The reel will revolve so as to Wind in the line 44.

When it is desired to let line out, then the kite simply pulls against the inertia of gear means 41 and motor 28. When it is desired to slow down or stop the outward travel of the line, then the thumb of the user, for example, may be merely disposed to rest upon gear 40. For this purpose it is desirous that the gear 40 have small teeth and be fabricated from a suitable plastic such as "Teflon or nylon, for example. In this connection, in

a desired form of the invention a second opening 47 (see FIGURE 1) is included. This is provided for permitting the proximity placement and, desirably, the protrusion of the upper portion of gear 40 with respect to opening 47. Thus, it becomes easy for the operator to place his thumb or finger upon the gear and rest the same thereupon and upon reel enclosure 12 so as to impede if not halt reel revolvement. A suitable stop may be incorporated for setting the gear if desired to any desired position.

When the user desires to reel in his kite, he simply releases his thumb (or stop means) from gear 40 and pushes the switch slide 20 forwardly so as to produce a contact of electrical contact arm 21 with flange 26 of electrical member 24. This energizes motor 28 so as to actuate the reel 37.

It is of course possible that where a simple bracket is included, or other equipvalent means, for mounting the reel 37, that additional space may be provided such that the supplying of opening 45 and the second opening 47 may not be required.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An electric kite winder including, in combination, a case having a handle and a reel enclosure integral therewith; a reel journaled within said reel enclosure; an electric motor disposed within said reel enclosure; means mechanically intercoupling said motor to said reel, enabling said motor to drive said reel, said reel enclosure provided with an opening; line means routed through said opening and wound upon said reel; battery means operatively disposed within said handle; switch means mechanically disposed on said case; and means electrically interlocking said switch means, said battery means, and said motor in a series circuit, and wherein said mechani cally intercoupling means comprises gear reduction means, said reel enclosure being provided with a second opening, said gear reduction means including a gear protrud'ing upwardly in proximity with said second opening, enabling manual retention of the latter.

2. An electric kite winder including, in combination, a case having a handle and a reel enclosure integral therewith; a reel journaled within said reel enclosure; an electric motor disposed within said reel enclosure; means mechanically intercoupling said motor to said reel, enabling said motor to drive said reel, said reel enclosure being provided with an opening; line means routed through said opening and wound upon said reel; battery means operatively disposed Within said handle; switch means mechanically disposed on said case; and means electrically intercoupling said switch means, said battery means, and said motor in a series circuit, and wherein said mechanically intercoupling means comprises gear reduction means, said reel enclosure being provided with a second opening, said gear reduction means including a gear protruding upwardly through said second opening, enabling manual retention of the latter.

3. An electric kite winder including, in combination, a case having a handle and a reel enclosure integral therewith; .a reel journaled within said reel enclosure; an electric mot-or disposed within said reel enclosure; means mechanically intercoupling said motor to said reel, enabling said motor to drive said reel, said reel enclosure being provided with an opening; line means routed through said opening and wound upon said reel; battery means operatively disposed within said handle; switch means mechanically disposed on said case; and means electrically intercoupling said switch means, said battery means, and said motor in a series circuit, and wherein said electrical intercoupling means includes a conductive member disposed between said motorand said switch, said switch means upon actuation selectively engaging said conductive member, said electrical intercoupling means also including electrical means intercoupling said motor and battery means and passing through said conductive member, and installation means annually interposed between said electrical means and said electrical member and having a but ton in physical and electrical contact with said battery means, engaging said electrical means, and insulated from said electrical member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,488 5/ 13 McCluer et al.

2,204,579 6/40 De Armond et al 242l00 2,776,515 1/57 Lynch.

3,030,733 4/62 Crawford.

3,075,722 1/ 63 Stealy et al.

MARVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRIC KITE WINDER INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A CASE HAVING A HANDLE AND A REEL ENCLOSURE INTEGRAL THEREWITH; A REEL JOURNALED WITHIN SAID REEL ENCLOSURE; AN ELECTRIC MOTOR DISPOSED WITHIN SAID REEL ENJCLOSURE; MEANS MECHANICALLY INTERCOUPLING SAID MOTOR TO SAID REEL, ENABLING SAID MOTOR TO DRIVE SAID REEL, SAID REEL ENCLOSURE PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING; LINE MEANS ROUTED THROUGH SAID OPENING AND WOUND UPON SAID REEL; BATTERY MEANS OPERATIVELY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HANDLE; SWITCH MEANS MECHANICALLY DISPOSED ON SAI CASE; AND MIEANS ELECTRICALLY INTERLOCKING SAID SWITCH MEANS, SAID BATTERY MEANS, AND SAID MOTOR IN A SERIESD CIRCUIT, ANDWHEREIN SAID MECHANICALLY INTERCOUPLING MEANS COMPRISES GEAR REDUCTION MEANS, SAID REEL ENCLOSURE BEING PROVIDED WITH A SECOND OPENING, SAID GEAR REDUCTION MEANS INCLUDING A GEAR PROTRUDING UPWARDLY IN PROXIMITY WITH SAID SECOND OPENING, ENABLING MANUAL RETENTION OF THE LATTER. 